Ever been to Abu Dhabi?

It's a pretty city.  Do you know there are 33 million palm trees in Abu Dhabi??? (A total of 41 million in the UAE.)  They have a wonderful corniche along the Gulf and a fun little Heritage Village on the water.  To top it off the grand mosque there is truly grand.  We enjoyed a fun day there today.

The only bummer was the horrible traffic coming home...there had to be 8 lanes merging into 3 lanes onto the 311 south of town. UGH!

The guidelines changed from when Andy and I went to the mosque last year....so we four girls had to register and then borrow an abaya for our visit.  Aren't we colorful?

 

We were able to take a tour of the mosque when we arrived.  The facts and figures are mind boggling!  Millions of Swarovski crystals in the chandeliers, the largest woven rug ever made, 2 billion spent to build...the list goes on and on.  The mosque can accommodate about 40,000 people, inside and outside.

 

Faith looks so cute - and the inlaid precious stones and ivory are beautiful.

 

Avery kind of enjoyed wearing the scarf - and doesn't she look sweet?

 

Over 80 domes...and hundreds of pillars...

 

A pic at the same place as last year...

 

The building where the Sheik is buried.

 

Beauty in every corner.

 

 

It was pretty warm today so we were pretty happy when we could shed the polyester abayas and the scarves.  

Was an educational and inspirational visit to the Grand Mosque.